The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 520 The Battle of Bagongyuan

South of Bagongyuan, Chai Rong ordered the army to rest on the spot and wait for the scouting horses to find out the enemy situation ahead.

A fire pot was set up in the temporary imperial tent. Chai Rong, dressed in military armor, stood in front of a huge marching map and meditated.

There were more than a dozen generals sitting in the middle of the tent.

Zhang Yongde, Li Chongjin, Fan Aineng, He Hui, Shi Yanchao, Xiang Xun, Bai Chongzan, Cao Han, Gao Huaide, etc. are listed.

Outside the tent, Shi Shouxin, the governor of the inner palace, Yuhou, was ordered to serve as a guard, and Zhu Wu, who was the captain of the first squadron of the inner palace, was also among them.

Li Chongjin rubbed his hands and shouted: "Bai Conghui ran very fast. I chased him all the way, and my buttocks were bruised with blood from the saddle."

Zhang Yongde coughed, frowned and whispered in a low voice: "You must not lose etiquette before the emperor!"

Li Chongjin lightly slapped his mouth and said with a sneer: "The general will finally realize his mistake."

Shi Yanchao smiled and said: "Since Duke Li got married and had children, he must have neglected martial arts. His martial arts has declined a lot! I saw you and Bai Conghui fighting that day, and you couldn't defeat him even after thirty moves."

"Let go~" Li Chongjin was about to glare and scold, glanced at Zhang Yongde, and changed his words angrily: "Nonsense! In the melee that day, Bai Conghui was protected by more than a dozen soldiers. I, the general, finally managed to get close to him. Just after the fight, The guy just ran away, what can I do?"

Shi Yanchao laughed and said: "Zhu Xiu said that you stay in the house all day long washing diapers. It seems to be true! If it had been Li Chongjin when Yedu raised an army, he would have stabbed Bai Conghui to the core with one shot!"

There was a chuckle in the imperial tent, and Li Chongjin blushed with embarrassment: "You bastard Zhu Xiu, you exposed my shortcomings again!"

The crowd laughed louder.

Fan Aineng and He Hui smiled a little perfunctorily. They were not in the same gang as Li Chongjin and Zhang Yongde, and they couldn't deal with Zhu Xiu.

Chai Rong returned to the main seat in the center and sat down, smiling: "Zhongjin loves his son very much, so there is no shame in washing diapers."

Li Chongjin choked and said: "Your Majesty, don't listen to Zhu Xiu's rumors! No matter how poor the general's house is, he can still afford a few rough servants, so there is no need to do it himself!"

Zhang Yongde said nonchalantly: "Children's urine can ward off evil spirits. The more you pee, the more bad luck will go away!"

Li Chongjin said with a smile: "I know, you are jealous of me! I will tell Fourth Sister when I get back that you think she gave birth to a daughter for the first time!"

Zhang Yongde was stunned, gritted his teeth and said: "How dare you!"

"Then you come to my house and wash my son's diapers!" Li Chongjin took the opportunity to threaten.

Everyone was amused by the two's daily bickering. Seeing that Zhang Yongde couldn't speak up, Chai Rong smiled and said, "I'd say Zhu Xiu is the one who should wash the diapers. He was the one who started this conversation."

Zhang Yongde was angry and depressed, and cursed in a low voice: "Asshole!"

Li Chongjin stared at him, not knowing whether to scold himself or Zhu Xiu.

Fan Aineng and He Hui exchanged glances, and He Hui clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, the last general requests to go to battle, to fight the enemy for the second time!"

Fan Aineng also asked for orders: "The last general is willing to partner with General He to promote the power of our great Zhou army!"

Li Chongjin curled his lips with disdain.

Zhang Yongde also looked cold.

In their opinion, Fan Aineng and He Hui were not worthy of sitting on the position of a senior general of the bodyguard army.

In terms of personal bravery, neither of them combined could be a match for the veteran Bai Chongzan.

In terms of military exploits, there was nothing dazzling about either of them.

The only saving grace is seniority and loyalty.

Fan Aineng was a member of the late emperor's personal army, and He Hui followed Chai Rong from the first year of Guangshun.

When Chai Rong came to the throne, the Guards Department must have reliable people in charge. It just so happened that many generals in the Guards Department were implicated by Wang Yin and Wang Jun and ushered in a great purge. With the right time, place and people, Fan Aineng and He Huicai were able to take the position.

But after all, loyalty and seniority cannot be transformed into skills on the battlefield. The enemy army is powerful and they are all led by veteran generals. Fan Aineng and He Hui may not be able to deal with it.

Li Chongjin was about to speak when Zhang Yongde winked at him and signaled him not to say more, so Li Chongjin could only hold back his words.

Chai Rong glanced at the two of them. Privately, Zhang Yongde had mentioned to him the issue of Fan Aineng and He Hui. Chai Rong had been in charge of the army for many years, so he naturally knew it.

However, as an emperor, he has his own way of governing his subordinates, and sometimes ability is not the most important thing.

Chai Rong was also confident that he was on the battlefield in person, and there were many strong generals under his command. The morale of the Zhou army was strong, and even if Fan Aineng and He Hui made a small mistake, it would not affect the overall situation.

Just as Chai Rong was about to speak, Tan Ma rushed back to deliver the message. Cao Han took it and sent it forward.

After opening it and taking a few glances, Chai Rong handed the newspaper to Zhang Yongde, then stood up and stood in front of the march map to think.

The generals quickly circulated the letter and learned about the latest situation in Bagongyuan.

Liu Chong's army occupied the north of Bagongyuan, formed a formation to wait for the Zhou army, and even issued an invitation to fight arrogantly.

Li Chongjin immediately said: "Liu Chong dares to underestimate Zhou's army! Your Majesty, the last general requested the order to lead the army to fight! Your Majesty can just watch the battle on the high ground south of Bagongyuan!"

Fan Aineng said: "Du Yuhou has already fought one battle, so you might as well take a break and leave the rest of the battle to the last general."

Li Chongjin was transferred to the bodyguard Ma Bujundu Yuhou, and he was Fan Aineng's immediate superior. I thought Li Chongjin would be a bit mean, but he glared and said in a very polite way: "How can a mere Bai Conghui bother this general? Even if he doesn't bother me anymore? It doesn’t matter if we fight for ten days and ten nights! Your martial arts skills are mediocre, and your ability to command in battle is average. It’s better to guard the central army honestly and stay with His Majesty!”

Fan Aineng blushed: "Marquis Li Duyu underestimated my second general!"

He Hui said coldly: "Although the two of us are not as strong as Li Du Yuhou in martial arts, we are still determined to die loyally to His Majesty!"

Li Chongjin's "tow" sound did not hide his contempt at all, and the two were so angry that they glared at each other.

Chai Rong was helpless, these two groups really couldn't get together.

"Okay, stop arguing!" Chai Rong looked slightly displeased and pointed to several places on the march map, "The enemy troops are arrayed in three places. I also divided the army into three groups, each performing its own duties and cooperating with each other. Follow orders and make no mistakes!"

Everyone obeyed the order in unison.

"Li Chongjin and Bai Chongzan are on the left and are the troops of the West Chamber;
Fan Aineng and He Hui are on the right, serving as the East Wing Army;

I and the rest of the generals are in the middle, forming the middle route army.

Xiang Xun and Shi Yanchao led three thousand fine cavalry behind the infantry array of the middle route army, and Zhang Yongde led the personal troops in front of the palace to guard me!
Bagongyuan is surrounded by mountains. The enemy troops are in the north and our troops are in the south. They are arrayed east and west. The open plain in the center is the place for the decisive battle!

The three armies were less than two miles away from each other. They used the cannon as a signal and the flag as a guide. They advanced upon hearing the drum and retreated with the sound of gold. Anyone who dared to retreat even half a step before receiving the military order was beheaded! "

All the soldiers gathered around the march map and listened carefully to Chai Rong's pre-battle deployment.

An hour later, the army finished resting and marched into the Bagong Plain area in three ways according to the plan.

By the time the three armies were in formation, it was already afternoon.Chai Rong wore armor and a sword, and even his horses were covered with thin iron armor. He climbed up to the high hill in the south of Bagongyuan. He was guarded by Zhang Yongde and more than a thousand pro-army troops in front of the palace.

Chai Rong looked up and saw the dragon flag of the Zhou Dynasty fluttering on the hill, and the apricot yellow umbrella cover represented the emperor's visit.

Under the hill, the battle flags of the Central Army were fluttering and the formations were orderly. The armors worn by the soldiers glowed with white light, as if magic soldiers descended from the sky.

On the east and west sides, the battle flag of the Great Zhou Dynasty can be vaguely seen raised high, and the soldiers and horses on the left and right sides have arrived at the fighting position.

At that time, the clouds were low and the wind was roaring, bringing with it yellow sand, and there was a chilling atmosphere in the hundreds of miles of wilderness.

Chai Rong's heart was full of excitement. He looked north of Bagongyuan and secretly tightened his grip on the reins. This was his first battle as he ascended the throne and there was absolutely no room for failure!

Zhang Yongde rode forward and whispered: "Nearly half of the black fire mines are affected by moisture and cannot be used. The leather ropes of the three throwing carts are brittle and broken. I am afraid they cannot be used again."

Chai Rong frowned and said immediately: "It doesn't matter. Without firearms, I will command the army and fight Liu Chong openly in the field! How can the Zhou army be no match for the Northern Han soldiers?"

Zhang Yongde looked at the direction in which the flag was flying and said: "The wind is blowing from the northeast now, and the wind is not conducive to our army. We might as well wait and see."

Chai Rong nodded and looked at the enemy formation a mile away.

The troops in front of the palace were arrayed on a high hill with Chai Rong's position as the core. Zhao Kuangyin looked at the enemy's formation and suddenly said solemnly: "The soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty are arrayed in an orderly manner. Sand and dust are rolling on both sides of the formation, which shows that there are many cavalry. This It’s not a good fight.”

Behind Zhao Kuangyin, a young forbidden soldier named Ma Renyu smiled and said: "If I were Liu Chong, I would definitely not choose the Chinese army to fight head-on. Instead, I would send the cavalry to outflank the two wings, trying to break through from the east and west, and then attack again." Encircle the Chinese Army!"

The rude man Zhang Qiong clenched the steel knife in his hand and whispered: "No matter what his formation is, just rush forward and chop his mother!"

Zhao Kuangyin turned around and laughed softly and cursed: "Shut up, everyone, stand in formation, and don't whisper to each other!"

The layer of defense closest to Chai Rong is undertaken by the inner palace guards led by Shi Shouxin.

Shi Shouxin also saw that the enemy's formation was compact and could not be described as a mob.

On the other hand, in the east wing of the Zhou army, the right army led by Fan Aineng and He Hui entered the fighting position a quarter of an hour late, and the formation layout was also quite problematic.

Zhu Wu beside him whispered: "General Shi, do you see something is wrong?"

Shi Shouxin shook his head, nodded again, and said nothing.

Zhu Wu whispered: "Don't think so much, just remember what my brother said. Once the battle starts, follow your majesty closely!"

Shi Shouxin nodded gently, remembering Zhu Xiu's private instructions when he left Beijing not long ago.

Just one thing, let him stay with His Majesty no matter what.

At first, Shi Shouxin was a little puzzled. As the governor of the inner palace, he must be where the emperor is.

From what Zhu Xiu said, it seems that His Majesty the Emperor is going to fight in person?

When that time comes, I'm afraid the war will be at its most dangerous.
Shi Shouxin was suddenly startled and stared at the East Wing Army. Could it be that the problem lies there?
North of Bagongyuan, Liu Chong and Yelu Dilu walked out of their tent and stood on a high slope, watching the Zhou army's formation from a distance.

Behind him were many Northern Han generals and advisors.

Liu Chong looked at it for a while and sneered: "Children Chai Rong has indeed divided his forces!"

Yelu Dilu frowned with two thick reptilian eyebrows: "The Zhou army has strong morale and is well-established in advancing and retreating. It is best to wait and see for a while, and do not rush in with lightly armed troops!"

Liu Chong said with a smile: "General Yelu thinks too highly of the Zhou army! Just watch the battle and see how my army defeats the Zhou army!"

Yelu Dilu snorted lightly and said no more.

Wang Yansi, deputy envoy to the Privy Council, came forward to report: "Your Majesty, the enemy situation on the east, west, and middle routes of Zhou's army has been confirmed! Chai Rong is personally in charge of the middle route, leading Zhang Yongde, Shi Yanchao, Xiang Xun and other generals; the west wing army is composed of Li Chongjin and Bai Chong Zan is the commander; the east chamber army is led by Fan Aineng and He Hui."

Liu Chongdao: "Who are Fan Aineng and He Hui?"

Wang Yansi smiled and said: "Two unknown juniors! Fan Aineng had previously killed Wang Yin in Yedu, and He Hui had also followed Chai Rong for many years, so the two of them were reused!"

Liu Chong pondered for a moment and then burst into laughter: "Today is the day when the Zhou army captures Chai Rong!"

"Zhang Yuanhui!" Liu Gaofeng shouted.

A burly general with a helmet and armor strode forward, knelt on one knee, and the heavy armor on his body clanked: "The general is here!"

Liu Chong held his riding whip and pointed to the east: "You lead more than a thousand cavalry, wait until the two groups of soldiers and horses are fighting in the east, and lead the army to fight out from behind the hills on the side. Don't hesitate to fight, and attack the enemy's general's position directly!
If the enemy general flees, don't pursue him. Instead, gather your troops and horses immediately. You will lead the cavalry charge, followed closely by the infantry, and charge straight to the center, cooperating with the Chinese army to kill the enemy! "

"The last general takes orders!" Zhang Yuanhui's voice was like thunder.

Liu Chong shouted again: "Wang Yansi and Bai Conghui lead the Western Route Army against the enemy's west wing. They don't seek victory, but they seek to hold the enemy back to death!

I personally lead the Chinese army to supervise the battle. I hope that the soldiers of the three armies will sacrifice their lives in this battle. If we can defeat the enemy in one battle and recover the rivers and mountains, you will be regarded as ministers to all ages! "

The morale of the generals in the Northern Han Dynasty was greatly boosted, and they shouted in unison that "Long Live the Mountain".

Suddenly, a discordant voice came out: "The wind is changing, and the south wind is blowing, which will be detrimental to our army. Your Majesty, please postpone the decisive battle!"

The speaker was Wang Dezhong, a privy scholar.

Liu Chong was stunned for a moment. He looked up at the flag and saw that the wind was changing rapidly.

When the battle is approaching, the wind suddenly changes, which is detrimental to one's own side but beneficial to the enemy. This is not a good omen.

There were also some private discussions among the soldiers of the Northern Han Dynasty.

Liu Chong gritted his teeth and had no choice but to fire the arrow on the string, and shouted: "As long as the soldiers of the three armies fight bravely to kill the enemy, our army will win!"

Wang Dezhong said anxiously: "This is a warning from God, you must be careful!"

Liu Chong was furious: "Old scholar, don't say anything more! If you dare to shake the morale of the army again, I will kill your flag first!"

Wang Dezhong sighed and quietly retreated.

The soldiers and horses of the Northern Han Dynasty waved their flags to communicate with each other on several hilly highlands from east to west. Dozens of fast horses divided into two routes from the central army to pass on Liu Chong's orders.

Soon, the sound of war drums sounded in the Northern Han army camp. The three armies advanced in unison, approaching from north to south. Dozens of soldiers advanced and retreated in phalanx, roaring in unison from time to time. The morale was equally high!

On the high hill south of Bagongyuan, Chai Rong saw the Northern Han soldiers taking the lead. He took a deep breath and said calmly to Zhang Yongde: "Give the order!"

Zhang Yongde raised his right arm and clenched his fist, shouting angrily: "Beat the drum! Let the three armies line up to meet the enemy!"

A forbidden soldier struggled to wave a brown-yellow dragon flag, and the dull sound of war drums came from the high hill.

Soon, under the high hill, the messengers waved flags alternately, and the armies of the two armies in the east and west also waved flags in response. War drums sounded one after another, and the Zhou army roared in unison, marching towards the north in neat steps!

Under the gloomy sky, on the vast plains of Bagong Plain, nearly a hundred thousand soldiers and horses spread out in formation, approaching each other from the north and the south. A huge war that would determine the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty was about to break out.
(End of this chapter)